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Thursday, September 9, 2010 |
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City, county team up to help farmers
Published August 28, 2009
SEGUIN — Farmers and ranchers whose wells or stock tanks have dried out in the drought can purchase water from the city under an agreement hammered out between city and county officials.
“It’s a situation where we’re in a drought of record and everybody is suffering,” said County Judge Mike Wiggins. “A lot of people depend on water to conduct livestock or farming operations, and there is none. Tanks are either dry or are close to drying up, and I’ve received reports from a number of people with shallow water wells that have gone dry.”
Guadalupe County AgriLife Extension Agent Travis Franke recently called the drought situation “depressing” in his monthly report to commissioner’s court.
He said farmers harvested only about 20 percent of the corn and milo crops this summer, and most of that was baled into hay.
“If it rained now, it’s not going to help that,” Franke said. “The biggest problem we’re facing now is wells and ponds going dry. Cattle can drink 10 or 15 gallons or more of water on a hot day. If you’re having to haul water, it gets very expensive and very tiring.”
Wiggins said he’d received a number of calls from folks working in the ag business looking for an alternative water source.
“I’ve had several calls for help — not for free water, but for a place that could provide water to haul back for livestock that they’ll either have to sell or will die without it.”
Wiggins said he’d sought help from other agencies without luck, but when he contacted Seguin Mayor Betty Ann Matthies and City Manager Doug Faseler, he found them more than cooperative — and more than willing to help.
“The mayor was very supportive of this even though it’s not a city problem,” Wiggins said. “They were more than willing, at my request to help people in the county who are in dire need of water. It wasn’t a question of whether we can do it — it was a question of how we could do it. All I did was make the call and get the ball rolling.”
Matthies said there could be no question that the city would help rural farmers and ranchers facing a drought emergency if there was anything at all to be done.
“I know some people would say, well, that’s a county problem, but the ag community is certainly a part of the Seguin community whether they live in town or out in the county. We’re very genuinely concerned about their problem, and we certainly understand it. We have the facilities, we have the ability, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t do this.”
Farmers or ranchers can bring barrels or any portable container to the Seguin Utility Warehouse located at 816 Fred Byrd Drive near the Seguin Events Complex between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the duration of the drought. Cost is $3.70 per 1,000 gallons.
Wiggins said he was grateful for the city’s fast response and offer to help.
“The drought is having a significant impact on the local farmers and ranchers being able to provide water to their livestock and the city of Seguin and Guadalupe County are pleased to be able to work together on such an important issue facing our community and our agricultural economy,”
Franke said the water would be welcome.
“Anything the city and the county can do in that regard would be greatly appreciated,” Franke said.
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